New Process for Verifying Identity at USCIS Interviews

As of September 9, 2013, United CitizenshipThe country in which a person is born (and has not renounced or lost citizenship) or naturalized and to which that person owes allegiance and by which he or she is entitled to be protected. and Immigration Services (USCIS) began using a new verification tool called “Customer Identity Verification” (CIV) at its local field offices. The new program should be in use at all local offices by October 21st. The purpose of CIV is to provide an additional method of verifying the identity of certain applicants for immigration benefits. For those of you familiar with the green cardA wallet-sized card showing that the person is a lawful permanent resident (immigrantan alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Permanent residents are also commonly referred to as immigrants; however, the Immigration and NationalityThe country of a person’s citizenship or country in which the person is deemed a nationalA person owing permanent allegiance to a state. Act (INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens.) broadly defines an immigrant as any alien in the United States, except one legally admitted under specific nonimmigrantAn alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad (for most classes of admission) and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. The nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens in transit through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign information media, exchange visitors, fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers, and some others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children. categories (INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens. section 101(a)(15)). An illegal alien who entered the United States without inspection, for example, would be strictly defined as an immigrant under the INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens. but is not a permanent resident alien. Lawful permanent residents are legally accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States. They may be issued immigrant visas by the Department of State overseas or adjusted to permanent resident status by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States.) in the United States. It is also known as a permanent resident card (PRC), an alienAny person not a citizen or nationalA person owing permanent allegiance to a state of the United States. registration receipt card and I-551Permanent residence card or alien registration receipt card or "green card.". It was formerly green in color. process, this will be similar to a biometrics appointment. However, the verification is done immediately prior to an applicantPerson who wants something for him/herself and makes a request for it (asks for it). The request is usually in writing.
’s interview at the local USCIS office.

It would work something like this: An applicantPerson who wants something for him/herself and makes a request for it (asks for it). The request is usually in writing.
receives an interview notice to appear at his or her local USCIS office at a specified time for an interview on his or her application. On the day of the interview, the applicantPerson who wants something for him/herself and makes a request for it (asks for it). The request is usually in writing.
clears security and then checks in at the designated counter. At the counter, an officer will electronically scan 2 fingerprints and take a digital photo of the applicantPerson who wants something for him/herself and makes a request for it (asks for it). The request is usually in writing.
to verify his or her identity.

USCIS reports that this extra step will only take a few extra minutes, but we’ll just have to see how this goes as the process is implemented. From time to time, we have a client whose fingerprints cannot be captured electronically. There is no indication from USCIS how it plans to handle that situation.

Keep in mind that CIV does not replace the standard appointment for biometrics that applicants have prior to a green cardA wallet-sized card showing that the person is a lawful permanent resident (immigrantan alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Permanent residents are also commonly referred to as immigrants; however, the Immigration and NationalityThe country of a person’s citizenship or country in which the person is deemed a nationalA person owing permanent allegiance to a state. Act (INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens.) broadly defines an immigrant as any alien in the United States, except one legally admitted under specific nonimmigrantAn alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad (for most classes of admission) and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. The nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens in transit through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign information media, exchange visitors, fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers, and some others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children. categories (INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens. section 101(a)(15)). An illegal alien who entered the United States without inspection, for example, would be strictly defined as an immigrant under the INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens. but is not a permanent resident alien. Lawful permanent residents are legally accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States. They may be issued immigrant visas by the Department of State overseas or adjusted to permanent resident status by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States.) in the United States. It is also known as a permanent resident card (PRC), an alienAny person not a citizen or nationalA person owing permanent allegiance to a state of the United States. registration receipt card and I-551Permanent residence card or alien registration receipt card or "green card.". It was formerly green in color. or naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth. interview.